IT Faces and Voices

Adam Zangerle

A Dream Fulfilled

“I like the university environment. It allows us to keep up with ever-changing technologies. ”

Adam Zangerle, Network Engineer

Network and Classroom Services

Adam Zangerle always wanted to work at UB. He first joined
Network and Classroom Services in 2001 as a student intern.
“I like the university environment. It allows us to keep up
with ever-changing technologies. ,” Adam said. “I
knew I wanted to come back after I graduated. I even postponed
graduation for a semester so I could continue my internship and see
if there were any permanent openings.”

Despite a lack of openings when Adam graduated, he refused to
give up. He joined a healthcare company while keeping his eye
firmly on UB. He soon rejoined UB’s Network and Classroom
Services (NCS) department as a Network Engineer, where he is one of
the engineers responsible for the university’s core network,
focusing on Wi-Fi deployment.

Adam ensures that the UB population has the infrastructure to
get things done quickly, easily and more reliably. “We lay
the groundwork for everything, it’s like building a
road,” Adam stated. “Everything runs from the work we
do. Without the switches and routers, all of the computers, phones,
and projectors at UB would stop working. Everything would grind to
a halt.”

Most of Adam and NCS’ work is done behind the scenes.
“We’re everywhere,” Adam added. “We work
with the facilities’ team, university police, faculty, you
name it. I’ve literally been in almost every room on each UB
campus. It’s amazing when you step back and look how large UB
is and how smoothly everything runs.”

A daily function of Adam’s job is learning new
technologies. “I love getting to learn and build new
things,” he said. “I’m given the leeway to run
with my own projects as well. The ownership is on me; I’m
responsible for solving each problem that comes my way.”

NCS never lacks for projects to keep Adam and other engineers
like him busy. “We’re constantly working on wireless
system improvements,” he added. “The new buildings
going up downtown are exciting to work on as well.”

Adam is equally as busy away from UB. He enjoys running and has
participated in four marathons to date. Adam is also an avid gamer
and has played World of Warcraft for 8 years (his
“toon” is a Shaman, for you WoW players out there).
Most of all, Adam is a proud father. “My position at UB
offers me the flexibility to be there for my kids,” he said.
“There is a great work/life balance here.”